Scouting Report: Mark Walton, RB

Will the Patriots look to add another body to the backfield in the draft? If so, Walton brings a lot of qualities to the table that the Patriots look for.

NEPD Staff Contributor: Jeff Fidler

Forward by Mike Gerken

So, free agency hasn’t been all bad for the Patriots so far. I like the resigning of Burkhead and getting Jason McCourty for little to nothing was a classic Patriot move. The team is still linked to plenty of names and while none of them are headliners, they are players that could create depth and help on the field. It is these type of signings that allow the team to focus on specific players they like in the draft. Today, Jeff looks at one of those players that might be on that radar if the team feels the need to add some youth to the backfield and does not address it any further in free agency.

Background

From Cross City Florida

Lost father early at 7, along w/ other family. Mother died recently.

Was involved in a weird situation where he was arrested & then had charges dropped here. Can read about here.

Coaches have talked positively about maturity growth on & off the field.

Recently became a new father

Strengths

Versatility & Toughness – Walton is a perfect fit for today’s game that is featuring all around backs more & more. He can run inside/outside, is a very dangerous, reliable receiving threat & is good/willing in pass pro. Can stay on the field for all 3 downs if needed. Tough as nails that absorbs hits & & keeps on trucking. Has some dog in him. He’ll give you some y.a.c. Runs behind pads.

Agility, Lateral Movement & Vision – Very nice, effective jump cut. Can plant & explode. Has a little shake in him. Can make you miss from rushing or catching the ball, provides plenty of missed tackles. Very good peripheral vision to see the weather on the outside. Can set up the occasional DB/LB on the 2nd while at the l.o.s. Keeps eyes up/forward & moving.

Rec Back – Good hands, tracks the ball well & runs good routes. Has more than a few highlight grabs.

Known for being gym rat & having a good work ethic off the field.

Very capable, willing blocker in pass pro who for the most part uses good technique. Looks to set a good base & get inside his man’s chest if possible

Good ball security.

Plays low & has very good balance to him.

Concerns

At times tries to do too much dancing inside & out. Has to find a block & take 2-3 yard gains.

Frame is small, at 205-210, if he bulked up some, isn’t running anyone over between the tackles.

Ankle injury? Limited him big time in 2017. Lower leg/body injuries are always a concern for RB’S.

Summary

Walton isn’t a player w/ a ton of negatives or concerns for the type of player he is. If healthy & a team is comfortable w/ him, he’ll produce & be that shifty, x-factor type back that gives defenses fits. He can def have a Hunt, Kamara-like impact on the right team. He’s not the “workhorse” straight away thumper. Rather kills you in a bunch of ways testing your depth as a defense, making you cover every inch of the field.

Traits That Translate

Here are some clips that show off Walton’ s versatile & varied skill set

Mark Walton, RB, Miami (FL) thread:I know it's Toledo but the vision, burst and top end speed are evident. I'm 2 games in and he's one of my favorite players so far. Does not mean highest graded but he's a lot of fun #NFLDraft#TheUpic.twitter.com/P4jof0Qq32

Miami really trust Walton in pass protection, which is huge as a guy who is a very capable receiver. Something you saw on film is that they would slide protection and have Walton pick up the unblocked defensive end. He was never timid doing this, which to me says a lot. pic.twitter.com/rhmgej6uv1

Walton is a good receiver. He shows the ability to win underneath and when singled up on linebackers he can break them down, creating easy throwing windows. His run after catch ability is terrific, where he can use his open field vision and jump cut ability. pic.twitter.com/IErEz9O3rg

Related

51 Responses to “Scouting Report: Mark Walton, RB”

Alright finally last Mock Draft for me decided all about upside with positions of need. Sorry over did the Mock’s got kinda addicted

2nd:Tim Settle DT Huge upside can rush plus stop run all DT have just clog up the run
2ndOren Burks LB-S rangy smart a leader reminds of a springier Zack Cunningham cover TE’s and bigger slot WR’s
2nd:Dorian OdanieL Box saf hybrid he just jumps out like crazy on tape. similar reports as Jerome Baker think Dorian a better person so reach upside. Blitz and drop in Coverage cover RB slot WR’s
3rd:Cole mason Ol versatile can play Center Guard as well as tackle came from NFL style offense.
3rd:DJ Reed CB-FS-Nickel
4th:Bilal Nickols DE-NT Big athletic has nice upside fierce type player leader type
5th:Marcell Frazier Outside rusher play on 3rd days
7th::James Butler RB elusive can catch as well team up with Iowa Flash
Reply

As an overall TE Goedert hands down due to being able to both run routes catch and inline block.
As just a receiving TE only Gesicki hands down is the better receiver route runner also more athletic not that Goedert is bad at those Gesicki is just on another level just don’t expect him to be an inline blocker there are small wr’s and rb’s who are much better than Gesicki is.

I have Posted many Mocks tried thinking like BB taking players who everyone thinks a reach. I’m the type that goes off what see on Tape plus the Positives on scouting Reports . I don’t look where predicted to go either, it throws off my evaluation of a player, it makes me Focus to much on there Flaws. Felt just explain how I go about my Mocks or Players I like for the Pats

1# O’neil OT played basketball and BB’s fav Lacrosse be considered a reach like Solder was at the time of his draft but will work out.
2#Fred Warner ILB-OLB size coverage skills Patterns game after Bobby Wagner BYU Crew at LB
2# Dj Reed CB draft as a FS stop start quickness is insane tackling skills only tad shorter then dmac .
3 Kyle Lauletta QB reminds me of a healthy chad Pennington
4 Tyquan lewis DE tough player hot motor wont take plays off
5# Deadrin Senat DT short but rangy been through a lot of tragedy plays like it
7# Philip Linday RB run catch pass protect plays ST

Well it seems like I am having troubles posting comments here all of a sudden. I’ve tried posting several scouting type reports both with and with out links and the site seems to reject both. Even the plain comments that have gone through recently have taken several attempts and even then not all have gone through. Not sure what is happening.

Yes I thought it might be a links issue but I’ve posted a couple with links
Then I thought it might be a length issue but even short posts haven’t gone through
Then I thought it might be a copy issue so I typed it from scratch and still no luck.
I haven’t come across anything that stands out consistently as to why posts aren’t being accepted I’ve tried 3 posts today that weren’t accepted but was able to post 1 response that went through.

1# O’neil OT played basketball and BB’s fav Lacrosse be considered a reach like Solder was at the time of his draft but will work out.
2# Kameron Kelly FS taller Rangy ball skills played CB as well can do hybrid role good tackler from ST experience
2# Oren Burks LB-S Smart player Rangy plus did game planning like Pats do change each week
3 Mike White QB Big Arm can throw with touch as well improved his release speed past season as well looking off saf and LB’s
4# Tyquan lewis DE tough player hot motor wont take plays off
5# Deadrin Senat DT short but rangy been through a lot of tragedy plays like it
7# Philip Linday RB run catch pass protect plays ST

The New England Patriots lost their number one priority free agent to the New York Giants: Offensive tackle Nate Solder signed a four-year, $62 million dollar contract – a deal that makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in all of football. Solder, who won two Super Bowls in seven seasons in New England, addressed the media today for the first time and offered some insights on leaving the team that drafted him 17th overall in 2011.

One of the most notable tidbits from the 29-year old was him telling that the Patriots and Giants both offered him “somewhat equal money”, according to The Athletic’s Patricia Traina. Of course, the statement leaves a lot of room for interpretation that will never be fully explained without knowing the exact details of New England’s offer to its long-time starting left tackle.

However, as Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan of Boston Sports Journal explained on Twitter, the structure of the contract is equally important as the money associated to the deal:

Structure matters. No 46-man active roster bonuses in Nate Solder’s contract with the Giants. 46-man active roster bonuses are standard in the Patriots contract. Nate Solder’s last deal with the Patriots contained a Pro Bowl incentive. No incentives in his contract w/ the Giants […] When Tom Brady has 46-man active roster bonuses for 2018 can not see the Patriots making Nate Solder an exception

When the Patriots and Solder agreed to a two-year contract extension in 2015, the contract also included roster bonuses: The veteran, arguably one of top-10 left tackles in the NFL, received $31,250 for every game he was active during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Appearing in 31 of New England’s 32 games, Solder was therefore able to earn an additional but previously non-guaranteed $968,750.

No such bonus money is included in the deal that Solder ultimately signed with New York. So while, yes, the total money might have been “somewhat equal”, the structure and added guarantees could very well have made the difference in favor of New York.

There were three really good teams that were kind of in the running and it came down to a couple of things. The money was all somewhat equal and it just came down to where my family was going to be most comfortable.

As NBC Boston Sports’ Tom Curran added, the Patriots made a solid offer last week that would have made Solder one of the highest-paid offensive tackles in the NFL. However, New England’s offer was reportedly not equal to New York’s so the three teams Solder is talking about might have been the Giants, the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns.

Bill being Bill is signing up some value FA’s. Tobin is insurance in case Waddel or Fleming find greener $$$ pastures, Clayborn a solid edge rusher, Hill a good big back who can catch obf and McCourty looks like a replacement for Butler. Doesn’t mean some of the same positions won’t be addressed in the draft but depth and competition will be as usual. Not seeing a FA OT to step in day one for Solder so it could be a high draft priority. The only 1st round OT value I believe is McGlinchey. Not saying others won’t be taken in the first just the only one who should imo. So now this compells me to adjust my mock again. This time no trade downs.

I Love slater but thinking its declining skills from Injuries he was nicked up 2 years ago then hurt missing games this past year. Hate to see go hoping retire so can as a lifer Pat then help coach or assist at first

Hope sign Morgan Burnett for nice price as well as Corey Toomer coverage LB.
Read Pats were in sub package 90% of time this past season so either 3 safety’s on field or have Hybrids with speed to help cover

Leighton VanderEsch is a beast with skills the one thing didn’t like on Tape with him though he does what Elandon Roberts does where over runs the running back. VanderEsche does that 2-3 times a game. He could still be a beast with being more Athletic than Roberts though

Well Russell haven’t you seen my latest Mock? I’m sure I’ve solved the LT problem for the next five plus years. Well maybe anyway. Really though I can’t think of a FA vet that is available I would want, can you? I expect Waddle or Fleming will be the starter by default. Both did decent jobs last season when called upon but hope we get an early draft pick who will win the job sooner rather then later.

Alex Okafor has resigned with the Saints, but with Vinny Curry being cut I think the Pats should go after him. He’s played a 3-4 OLB role before so he offers the versatility the Pats are looking for. Solid against the run and very good pass rusher. The question will be how much he is asking for.

Lets see Curry made 9 million this past year(2017) This year was due to make 11 million and declined a pay cut. Due to make 11 million next year as well.
Curry received a 84.8 grade from PFF this past year
Curry had 4 hurries against the Pats in the Super Bowl
Curry played 576 snaps in 2017
Curry had 3.0 sacks in 2017
Curry had 47.0 QB pressures in 2017
Curry had 28 run stops in 2017
Adrian Clayborn meanwhile made 5.5 million this past year.
Clayborn received a 85.5 grade from PFF this past year
Clayborn had 4 hurries against the Pats in 2017
Clayborn played 555 snaps in 2017
Clayborn had 9.5 sacks
Clayborn had 18 run stops in 2017
Clayborn had 54.0 pressures in 2017
Both players are 29 and will be 30 this summer

I like Avery though I have some concerns. The biggest concern is his height arm length. His height is 6′ 0 1/2″ with an Arm Length of 31″ while weighing 248. While that isn’t ideal it doesn’t eliminate him just based on that alone because Tedy Bruschi was 6’0 5/8″ at 250 lbs when he was drafted.

As far as more recent ILB’s he compares athletically very closely to Luke Kuechly

In 2017 he had 50 QB Pressures(Sacks,Hits,Hurries) most by any FBS ILB the next closest had 33.
In the NFLPA Bowl he picked off Logan Woodside on the very 1st play of the game while dropping into zone coverage.

Some other things that I’ve noticed not mentioned in the steelersdepot.com breakdown is when the OL gets to the 2nd level he can get blocked taken out of plays. He can either be slow to process reads or due to height not be able to read them clearly and be out of position or his instincts/football IQ isn’t the greatest not sure which is the case In some plays like above by Jonah he looks like he processes quickly an is fine while in other games not so much IE the UCF 2017 game. His tackling could use some work/refining not the cleanest.

To me he is more a athlete that plays football at a good level than a football player that is athletic. Could he become a football player who is athletic yes but right now I have him in the 4th round range(mid-late) and near the range of Oren Burks(mid 4th) and Fred Warner(early 4th).

Thanks, that is insightful.
Honestly, despite his negatives he could bring that long missed athleticism to Pats LB corps. Could be good value at a later round.
Getting him or F Warner at 4th would be great IMO.

It looks like Walton could be had for a later round pick because of his 4.60 40 time at the combine, but he apparently had nagging ankle injuries in 2017, and his 2016 tape makes him look much faster.

I haven’t seen a 10-yard split for his 40 time, but that might be more relevant to what he offers.

I’m still concerned that the Pats haven’t really replaced what L. Blount brought as a short-yardage specialist with upside, and expect the RB who fills that role to be #230 ish, but it makes sense to start training the next 3rd-down back for depth and continuity, too.

Walton didn’t test well at the Combine, but he is still a guy on my board. He has a well rounded game. Would have a very similar role here that Shane Vereen had. Simliar sized players with similar skill sets. He is not an every down back, but he certainly can handle some carries each game and would have to be accounted for as a receiver.

Don’t expect the Pats to be interested he has off field issues of impersonating a police officer dui and assault on a female which he was suspended for then went to court and then there was an out of court settlement.